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We thought about getting the Sailtimer wind vane earlier this year, but when I did my research, it seems that there were some issues with it not holding up after a few months or so. I love the idea and it's just a matter of time before they develop something more robust.

-Joy

I just my hands on a windvane that plugs into a smartphone from Vavuud. I'll be reviewing it soon on my blog. Stay tuned!

10-11-2013 11:49 PM

joyinPNW

Re: Ipad as sailing instrument....

We thought about getting the Sailtimer wind vane earlier this year, but when I did my research, it seems that there were some issues with it not holding up after a few months or so. I love the idea and it's just a matter of time before they develop something more robust.

-Joy

10-11-2013 11:18 PM

TakeFive

Re: Ipad as sailing instrument....

I was hoping that the Sailtimer Wind Vane would be on display at the Annapolis Boat Show. When trying to look up the company, I noticed that the Sailtimer Wind Vane is apparently discontinued, and they plan to replace it with the Sailtimer Wind Instrument next year.

Does anyone know the reason for this? Were there problems with the device? I've always been suspicious of solar powered devices (especially ones that are in difficult-to-reach places like the top of a mast). I guess I'm glad I didn't buy this last winter, since it looks like it's an orphan already.

You can't charge a battery through Bluetooth, so the Netbook runs off its own battery for up to 4 hours (typical daysail). When I go out for more than 4 hours I plug in a car adapter to a 12v outlet in my cockpit. That's the only wire that connects to the Netbook, and you can see it in the pics above.

More details on my setup can be found on this thread from two years ago. You can see there that I have a central interface box that feeds data and 5vDC to the various devices. The box is mounted to the ceiling of the aft berth, behind the VHF radio and directly below the solenoid switch for my LP system:

FYI, the black wire in the upper left corner of the above pic is gone now - ditto for the white wire hanging out of the 12V panel. Those were temporary power cables used for testing. They have since been hard-wired with hidden cables. And the angle of that pic is meant to show the interface box - from a normal standing position, it is completely hidden behind the VHF and you do not see it.

The GPS puck and the two Bluetooth transmitters all get their 5v supply from this box. The Bluetooth transmitters are mounted directly on the box, and wires from all the external devices (VHF, puck, autopilot, 5v supply line) all plug into the box via RJ45 connectors, like the ones commonly used for Ethernet. This way I can quickly disconnect everything if something needs to be removed for service.

The Bluetooth transmitters are industrial grade ones from USConverters, not the Iogear ones that you linked.

The GPS puck is a different one than you linked, although that one would work nicely for many applications. The one I used is this one:

Dave - I have the Standard Horizon GX2150, which has an AIS receiver integrated into it. I have a dedicated Garmin GPS puck feeding GPS coordinates to it (something I advocate for anyone who does not have a fixed chartplotter to connect to their DSC radio). I have two Bluetooth transmitters - one sends the GPS coordinates, and the other sends the AIS signal. My Netbook receives both and OpenCPN displays them. (I can also pick up these Bluetooth signals on my Nook Color tablet, which lacks its own internal GPS.) The Netbook also sends autopilot commands out via Bluetooth, from which it is routed to the autopilot. I once did a motorized run from Delaware City to Essington entirely using a pre-programmed route. Obviously I stood watch to make sure I did not need to dodge a freighter, buoy, tree, or old tire.

Although the AIS lacks transmit capability, having the receiver integrated into the radio does offer one very nice feature. With a turn of a knob (in the cabin) or the press of an arrow button (on the cockpit RAM mic) I can select any vessel on the AIS display and place a DSC call directly to them without having to manually enter their MMSI number. Placing a DSC call (as opposed to a normal voice hail) also sends them your GPS coordinates, which show up on their radio display (and on their chartplotter, if it's interfaced with the radio). This is a very nice feature which makes DSC much more easily usable than having to manually enter an MMSI number, which is hopelessly tedious.

Gottcha,

So everything into the netbook, except power to recharge it is blue toothed in from the cabin I am assuming. How do you keep power into the netbook?

How is the puck is down below connected to one bluetooth? Does it have to be powered?

The VHF the other bluetooth through a jack out on the VHF I assume correct?

What kind of AIS receiver did you get, a stand alone or one associated with a fixed VHF like the Standard Horizon VHF.. How do you incorpoate that into your netbook? Will it blue tooth or do you have to run a direct cable...

Dave - I have the Standard Horizon GX2150, which has an AIS receiver integrated into it. I have a dedicated Garmin GPS puck feeding GPS coordinates to it (something I advocate for anyone who does not have a fixed chartplotter to connect to their DSC radio). I have two Bluetooth transmitters - one sends the GPS coordinates, and the other sends the AIS signal. My Netbook receives both and OpenCPN displays them. (I can also pick up these Bluetooth signals on my Nook Color tablet, which lacks its own internal GPS.) The Netbook also sends autopilot commands out via Bluetooth, from which it is routed to the autopilot. I once did a motorized run from Delaware City to Essington entirely using a pre-programmed route. Obviously I stood watch to make sure I did not need to dodge a freighter, buoy, tree, or old tire.

Although the AIS lacks transmit capability, having the receiver integrated into the radio does offer one very nice feature. With a turn of a knob (in the cabin) or the press of an arrow button (on the cockpit RAM mic) I can select any vessel on the AIS display and place a DSC call directly to them without having to manually enter their MMSI number. Placing a DSC call (as opposed to a normal voice hail) also sends them your GPS coordinates, which show up on their radio display (and on their chartplotter, if it's interfaced with the radio). This is a very nice feature which makes DSC much more easily usable than having to manually enter an MMSI number, which is hopelessly tedious.

03-19-2013 07:00 PM

bacampbe

Re: Ipad as sailing instrument....

From their web site, I gather if you register an IMSI you will show up on global online AIS services (e.g. marine traffic or shipfinder). But if they repeat your AIS over VHF so that it would be received by a conventional AIS receiver, they don't mention it.